This document discusses the key aspects of writing reports. It defines a report as a structured written document that examines a specific issue to convey information and findings. There are different types of reports, including regular or periodic reports, informational reports, analytical reports, research reports, and special reports. The document also outlines the common formats, parts, and sections of reports, such as the title page, executive summary, introduction, methodology, findings, discussion, conclusion, and recommendations.
2. Writing Reports
A report is a statement of the
results of investigation on which
information is required.
A report is a ‘structured written
document’ in which a specific issue
is examined for the purpose of
conveying information in order to
report findings, to answer a request,
to put forward ideas and make
3. Types of Reports
1. Regular or periodic reports
2. Informational report
3. Analytical report
4. Research report
5. Special report
4. Types of Reports
1. Regular or periodic reports:
Reports that document recent activities
are known as periodic reports.
These reports are required periodically
as and when required by the
organization.
Regular or periodic reports may be
prepared daily, weekly, monthly,
quarterly or annually.
No comments are usually offered in
5. Types of Reports
2. Informational report:
Is used to present detailed facts about a
given activity without any note or
suggestion.
3. Analytical report:
It contain facts along with analytical
explanations offered by the reporter.
Such reports contain the narration of facts,
collected data and information, followed by
the conclusions or interpretations of the
collected data.
6. Types of Reports
4. Research report:
A research report is based on some research
work on a given problem.
The report will not only focus on findings but
also offer suggestions.
5. Special report:
These reports are prepared to meet specific
needs for writers and readers.
For some readers who want to decide on a
course of action, these reports provide them
the information that may help in their decision-
7. Formats of Reports
1. Long informal/semi-formal report:
They are more detailed , structured and have more
sections than the short report, comprising the title page,
summary, introduction, body of the report (findings and
discussions), conclusions and recommendations, and
appendices.
2. Formal report:
These are written only for inter organizational purposes.
They are written for a large audience.
They are most structured and have more sections, such as
title page, summary, table of contents, table of illustrations,
figures, tables (if any), introduction, body of the report
(methodology, findings and discussion), conclusions,
recommendations, bibliography and appendices (if
applicable).
Third person and passive voice should be used. Such as ‘it
is recommended…..’ rather than ‘ I have recommended…’
8. Parts of a Report
Prefatory part
1.Title page
2. Acknowledgement
3. Table of contents
4. Abstract or executive summary
Main body
1. introduction:
General view of your material, avoid details.
Clearly mention the problem or issue.
Purpose (why is the report being written?)
9. Parts of a Report
Background information.
Scope (what kind of information will be
presented? What will be excluded?
Don’t forget to give the definitions of technical
terms.
2. Literature review:
3. Methodology:
How you carried out your research/data
collection for the report.
Did you carry out interviews or questionnaires.
What statistical tools did you use?
10. Parts of a Report
4. Limitations:
Mention the issue that came in the way of making
your report 100 percent accurate.
5. Results/findings:
Present your findings in a simple way. There are
number of ways in which results can be
presented such as making use of tables, graphs,
pie charts, bar charts etc.
6. Discussion:
This is the section where you can analyze and
interpret your results drawing from the information
which you have collected, explaining its
significance.
11. Parts of a Report
Identify important issues and suggest
explanations for your findings.
7. Conclusion:
It is a summary of your study-its overall purposr,
its overall findings
8. Recommendations: